Rayvin

I don't think the vast majority of voters know what Neoliberalism is. Monbiot explains what we've just seen as follows. I happen to agree with this in the absence of a superior explanation: Perhaps the most dangerous impact of neoliberalism is not the economic crises it has caused, but the political crisis. As the domain of the state is reduced, our ability to change the course of our lives through voting also contracts. Instead, neoliberal theory asserts, people can exercise choice through spending. But some have more to spend than others: in the great consumer or shareholder democracy, votes are not equally distributed. The result is a disempowerment of the poor and middle. As parties of the right and former left adopt similar neoliberal policies, disempowerment turns to disenfranchisement. Large numbers of people have been shed from politics. Chris Hedges remarks that “fascist movements build their base not from the politically active but the politically inactive, the ‘losers’ who feel, often correctly, they have no voice or role to play in the political establishment”. When political debate no longer speaks to us, people become responsive instead to slogans, symbols and sensation. To the admirers of Trump, for example, facts and arguments appear irrelevant.

We know

Dunno like, it's been a while since I lost a bet involving the eating of someone's arse.

FFS Parky, say what you mean. I'm open to being wrong?

Yep, looking likely. Unless this serves as a warning to the centre left in France. I'm sure they must be taking this seriously now, Brexit and Trump should be all the signal any other liberal Western democracy needs.

I think you're rather missing the point here. Trump isn't the answer, he's a symptom. We don't have an answer. Also, is Naomi Klein the ex-marketing manager, or am I?

What do you mean? You think they're credible? I've seen them distort reality on a number of issues, I find their narratives uncomfortable...

Brilliant piece from mysel--- I mean Naomi Klein. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/09/rise-of-the-davos-class-sealed-americas-fate

The Young Turks... not the most credible source for anything, but ok.

Good post HF, interesting read.

I was playing video games. It's how I do all my thinking.

Good point...not sure actually, will have to reflect on it.

Really good speech from Obama as well.

Fair points - and absolutely on the last bit. It's certainly looking that way. Grim, really...

https://vine.co/v/eE7JJIejOX0 Sums it up, really.

She's doing so at 9.30am EST according to the Guardian...?

Fair point then - seems highly unlikely that the Founding Fathers would have had it in place for any nefarious reason. I'd imagine it's explained somewhere - maybe it's to do with keeping the needs of less populated states in line with others.

I suspect you'll find that it broadly agrees with you, but that you're using different terms and have a slightly nuanced spin on it Which is what we've established here.

Probably because that would mean the establishment is more at risk of things like this. That's the only conceivable reason, surely. Just because they've been burned this time, doesn't mean it hasn't worked for them in the past.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/15/neoliberalism-ideology-problem-george-monbiot For the third time now. Could you at least read it and tell me why you don't agree

Yeah I gather TTIP is dead in the water for sure now. Can't say I'm entirely displeased by that.

Also true. I suppose a lot of the people who've carried Trump here are voting along partisan lines, so this isn't a huge shift. The message is loud and clear mind you...

Good post actually.

Sorry, you have said that before. I agree with you. We're talking about the same thing, and the same phenomenon, with different words. My earlier comment said there was no cabal or conspiracy either. Where you've written globalisation, technological advancement and wealth inequality, I just shorten that to Neoliberalism.

I love this place after disaster scenarios I have to say. It gets me through the day.